IN some parts of the country it has been called "bureaucratic chaos" - in Worcestershire it might not be quite as bad as that, but there's no doubt the Government's Single Payment scheme for farmers is causing much scratching of heads and some tearing of hair.

In tried and trusted fashion, a system that was supposed to make things easier has, initially anyway, made them more difficult.

"One of the big problems is that they're trying to do it in too much of a rush," said Terry Hill, chairman of Worcestershire NFU. "The applications forms that have to be filled in are quite complicated and not all that easy to understand. It would be better if we had some breathing space."

The Single Payment Scheme has been introduced by Defra to replace dozens of different subsidies that have clogged up the system for years.

However, farmers are angry with what they see as the inflexibility of the Rural Payments Agency arm of Defra that administers the scheme.

"I would like to think of myself as a reasonably intelligent person," said Mr Hill, who farms at Browns Heath, just outside Droitwich, "but there is no doubt parts of these forms can be confusing.

"I know several farmers who have had to employ agents to help them. The situation isn't helped either because Defra has had to take on temporary staff to cope with the rush and some of them don't seem familiar with the environment in which they find themselves.

"They don't talk the farmers' language. Also mistakes have been made when mapping farms and that causes problems right from the start.

"In Worcestershire, one of the big difficulties has arisen when farmers have sub-let their land for others to grow crops."

The introduction of the single payment scheme is the biggest change in agriculture in 30 years.

Farmers used to be paid according to production levels, but from this year the Single Payment replaced the majority of the old subsidy regimes.

The Government says the new system means farmers are free to produce what the market wants, rather than what each subsidy dictates, while also providing what is supposed to be a high level of environmental protection.

In the early years, the Single Payment is largely linked to a farmer's historical subsidy record, but by 2012 it will become a flat rate payment.

"In the long run, it is probably a good idea," added Terry Hill. "But at the moment it's just one more load of forms to be filled in by an industry that wants to get on and farm."

l Farmers must head to Block B, Government Buildings, Whittington Road, Worcester, in a hurry if they haven't put their forms in already.

Don't miss out for seven years

IF SPS applications are not in by close of business next Monday, they face swingeing penalties and if they delay too long and miss the cut off date altogether, they will receive no payment at all for the next seven years.

So far, less than 50 per cent of farmers have sent in completed forms and to cope with an anticipated last minute rush, the Government offices in Whittington Road, Worcester will be open all weekend for SPS forms to be dropped in.

Farmers should ensure they have completed and signed all relevant sections and initialled and dated any corrections before bringing in the forms. The RPA also recommends farmers take a copy of their completed forms.

Applicants who miss the deadline face severe reductions of four per cent per working day from their payments. Applications received after June 10 will miss out completely as no entitlements will be allocated after that date.